Container opener



R. GUYER CONTAINER OPENER April 12, 1955 Filed Oct. 12, 1953 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Reyna/d5 Gui/er (h. an

ATTORNEY 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 12, 1955 Filed Oct. 12, 1953 WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIA INVENTOR ATTORNEY -5'l Reynolds Gal er F .4 7' BY KW mfim 04 r//// AW a 5 6 w W a 3 k 2 7 April 12, 1955 GUYER 2,706,076

CONTAINER OPENER Filed Oct. 12, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Reynolds Gag/er BY m.gmn ug ATTORNEY INVENTOR United States Patent CONTAINER OPENER Reynolds Guyer, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Waldorf Paper Products Co., Ramsey County, Minn., a corpora on Application October 12, 1953, Serial No. 385,586

7 Claims. (Cl. 229-51) This invention relates to an improvement in container opener and deals particularly with a means of opening corrugated containers.

A great number of diiferent types of opening devices have been employed for opening cartons and containers. Many of these employ a reinforcing strip or cord inwardly of the walls of the container which will rip the container walls when pulled properly. Most such opening devices are rather costly relative to the total cost of the package. This is particularly true in the case of containers made of corrugated board or the like which are of relatively large size and yet which must be produced at relatively low cost.

An object of the present invention lies in the provision of a container opening device which may be used in the container without adding to the cost thereof. The opening means can be added at the same time the container is cut, creased or printed, and, therefore, will add nothing to the cost, with the exception of the relatively insignificant cost of setting up the apparatus or forming the added portions of the die.

Various cartons have been formed including two laminations of material which are adhered together. The innermost lamination is perforated or provided with two spaced weakened lines of separation. The outer lamination is provided with two spaced weakened lines of separation which are spaced farther apart than the weakened lines of the inner lamination. By grasping the end of a strip thus formed the adhesive bond between the laminations and between the weakened lines of the inner lamination and those of the outer lamination will give way, thus permitting the strip to be torn from the carton. Other cartons have been made in which the weakened lines are formed directly in the carton stock, the stock tearing intermediate its inner and outer surfaces to permit removal of the tearing strip. Insofar as we know a similar plan has never been applied to corrugated board as it has always been felt necessary to cut through the corrugations from one side or the other in order to form a tearing strip, this destroying the strength of the container. Corrugated containers are normally employed where rigidity and stacking strength is required and this stacking strength would be destroyed if the corrugated interior between the inner and outer lines was severed across one or more of the panels.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a corrugated container in which the inner liner is provided with weakened lines of separation in parallel spaced relation. In one form of the invention the outer liner is also provided with two weakened lines of separation, these lines usually being parallel and being spaced apart farther than the weakened lines of the inner liner. I have found that as the strip between the pairs of weakened lines is grasped between the thumb and finger and pulled outwardly the inner liner will rip through the corrugated or fluted part of the board between the liners and will form a continuous tear strip extending through one or more panels of the container.

An added feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a similar structure in which the parallel weakened lines in the outer liner are eliminated. I have found that if the portion of the inner liner between the weakened lines of separation is pulled outwardly, this strip tends to shear off the fluted portion between the liners and the fluted portion in turn tends to shear off the outer liner. and under usual circumstances. the outer liner will tear along generally parallel lines even without the provision of the weakened lines of separation. This form of construction has some advantages in that it is simpler to construct and results in a stronger case, but has the disadvantage of being slightly harder to tear out than the previously described form.

This application is a continuation in part of my previously filed application, Serial No. 317,422, filed October 29, 1952, now abandoned.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my specification:

F igure 1 is a perspective view of a container in readiness for opening.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a similar container in partially opened position.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of the blank of which the container is formed.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view through the tear strip after the strip has been partially removed from the container wall.

Figure 5 is a sectional view through a portion of the wall of the container before the tearing operation, the position of the section being indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the tear strip partially torn from the wall, the position of the section being indicated by the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a sectional view similar to Figure 5 showing a modified form of construction.

Figure 8 is a perspective view showing another modified form of construction.

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view of one end of the blank of the container shown in Figures 8 and 9.

The present invention is applicable to containers of various forms, shapes and sizes and the invention may be used either to remove a strip of material entirely about the circumference of the container or about one panel, or even a portion of a panel. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 the container is shown to comprise a rectangular body equipped with perforated lines so that the tear strip may be removed entirely about the circumference of the container. Another important embodiment is to provide a tear strip extending across three panels of the container near the center thereof, the fourth side being provided with a fold line so that the contrainer may be folded into two tray-like bodies. For the purpose of simplicity the embodiment shown is indicated as having a fold line extending across the fourth panel of the container between the weakened lines of separation so that the tear strip can be entirely removed or removed along three sides and folded about the fourth. Ordinarily a cut line or an edge of the container board is provided at the termination of the tear strip if the strip does not extend entirely about the container. While it is advantageous to extend the tear strip directly across the corrugations and usually with the grain of the liners, the strip can also extend diagonally if desired.

Figure 3 shows the blank of a typical container used for the purpose. The container is shown as including four panels 10, 11, 12 and 13, which are foldably connected along parallel fold lines 14, 15, and 16. The upper and lower edges of the panels described are connected along parallel fold lines 17 and 19 to end flaps foldable to close the ends of the container. Considering that the panels described are the critical panels of the container, these panels are connected along their upper edges by the fold line 17 to closing flaps 20, 21, 22, and 23, respectively. These panels are also connected along their lower edges to closing flaps 24, 25, 26, and 27, respectively.

The corrugated board forming the carton walls includes an inner liner 29, an outer liner 30, and a corrugated or fluted interior member 31. In the particular embodiment shown the flutes'or corrugations extend vertically of the first described walls 10 to 13. In the embodiment of Figures 3 to 6 inclusive, the inner liner 29 is shown as having two parallel weakened lines of separation 32 and 33 which extend across the panels 10, 11, 12, and 13. These weakened lines ordinarily comprise perforated lines, but may be cut scored with the cuts extending partially through the liner. The outer liner 30 is provided with parallel weakened lines of separation 34 and 35, these latter lines being spaced apart a distance greater than the space between the weakened lines 32 and 33. Also, the score lines 32 and 33 are positioned between the weakened lines 34 and 35 and are centered with respect thereto.

The inner corrugated or fluted member remains imp'erforate. Why the fluted member 31 may be readily torn by an outward pull upon the area between the weakened lines is not clearly understood, but it is believed that as the inner liner strip 29 is pulled against the portion of the corrugations adhered to this inner liner 29 there is a relatively small area of the fluted member in contact with the inner liner and the fluted member is rather readily fractured by the edges of the strip 36 of the liner 29 between the weakened lines of separation. Once the corrugated or fluted element is fractured, the edges of the strip 36 tend to cut or shear the flutes, one at a time as the strip is drawn outwardly.

Figures 2, 4 and 6 show the tear strip partially removed and Figure 6 indicates that the edges of the liner strip 36 cut through the fluted member 31 practically evenly across the top and bottom edges of this strip. The small amount of adhesive securing the flutes to the outer liner 30 between the cut portions of the flutes and the weakened lines 34 and 35 cause the adhesive to part along these narrow areas indicated at 37 and 39. The perforations in the outer strip merely confine the width of the strip 40 which is between the weakened lines 34 and 35. The weakened lines 34 and 35 are particularly useful when the tear strip does not extend directly across the corrugations or when the strip is not torn along the grain of the liners.

Figure 7 of the drawings shows a modified form of construction which has been successfully employed and appears to operate virtually as well as the previously described embodiment particularly when the tear strip extends directly across the corrugations and the grain of the liner extends longitudinally of the tear strip. In this form of construction the board includes an inner liner 41, an outer liner 42 and a corrugated or fluted interior member 43. Weakened lines of separation 44 and 45 extend into the liner 41 in a direction across the corrugations of the corrugated member 43. In operating a tear strip of this type the strip portion 46 intermediate the weakened lines 44 and 45 is grasped and pulled outwardly. The inner liner strip 46 engages against the corrugated member fracturing it and shearing or tearing it across the corrugations in line with the upper and lower edges of the strip 46. The confined inner liner strip 46 and cut portion of the corrugated member act to shear the outer liner 42, the entire strip being of substantially the same width throughout the thickness of the corrugated board. This structure is somewhat stronger than the previously described structure as the outer liners as well as the corrugated elements are not weakened or out prior to the tearing operation.

Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings show a form of the construction substantially identical to the structure shown in Figure 7 but somewhat more specific in that the spaced lines of weakness are cut lines, either continuous as in Figure 8 or interrupted, extending completely through the liner. The cut lines extend through the liner only, and do not extend into the corrugated layer. Thus in this structure, as in the previously described forms, the spaced lines do not materially impair the strength or integrity of the corrugated layer.

Figure 9 shows a section through a panel of corrugated board including an outer layer 53 and a corrugated layer 54, the two layers being adhesively connected together. A liner 55 is adhesively united to the surface of the corrugated layer opposite that to which the layer 53 is secured. The liner 55 is designed to form the inner surface of a container panel or panels, as in the previously described forms of construction.

In the embodiment of Figure 8 the cut lines 56 and 57 extend in continuous spaced side by side relation defining a portion therebetween which may be grasped and pulled outwardly. This portion between the cut lines serves as a tearing strip to rip through the corrugated layer and outer layer when pulled outwardly as shown and described.

As shown in Figure 8, the cut lines 56 and 57 may extend entirely about the periphery of the container, extending continuously along the hingedly connected panels 59, 60, 61 and 62 which are foldably connected together. The two panels 59 and 62 which are connected together by tape 63 or other suitable means may contain the ends of the removable portion, or the cut lines may extend across three panels, or less. Short notches 64 and 65, or cuts extending entirely through the wall, may underlie the tape 13, and the wall surface may be pivoted or otherwise treated to repel the adhesive of the tape along the board portion beneath the tape and lying outwardly of the portion between the cuts or notches 64 and 65. These cuts or notches are aligned with the cut lines 56 and 57 or terminate adjacent these lines so as to be of assistance in starting the ripping operation.

As indicated in Figure 3 of the drawings, a notch 47 may be provided at one end of the blank in line with the tear strip and a printed area 49 may be provided at the opposite end of the blank. The containers described are usually formed into tubular form by a strip of tape 50 connecting the panels 13 and 10. The printed area 49 prevents the tape strip 50 from sticking to the container board at the specific area at the end of the tear strip and the notch 47 permits the finger or thumb to be inserted beneath the tape 50 in the area of the tear strip and to engage the end of the tear strip so that it can be easily removed.

Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings show the containers in closed position with the tear strip extending around the circumference of the body. A fold line 51 is shown between the pairs of score lines across the panel 13. If desired the tear strip may be pulled off across three panels of the container and left attached across the panel 13 so that this panel can be folded to provide two tray shaped receptacles. In such an event the weakened lines across the panel 13 may be omitted if desired or the score line 51 may be omitted if the folding operation is not desired.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my container opener, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a box formed of corrugated board and comprising an adhesively united outer layer and corrugated layer and a relatively thin liner adhesively united to the inner side of said corrugated layer and forming the interior of the box, said corrugated layer having a thickness greater than the combined thicknesses of said outer layer and liner, there being spaced side by side lines of weakness in said liner, said corrugated layer constituting the major portion of the thickness of the board and being structurally unimpaired to withstand the stresses to which the box may be subjected, said lines of weakness extending transversely of the corrugations of said corrugated layer, and means adjacent said lines of weakness affording communication from the exterior with the portion of the inner liner which is located between the lines of weakness whereby said portion may be pulled from the exterior to serve as a tear strip and rip through the corrugated layer and simultaneously cause tearing of the outer layer.

2. In a box formed of corrugated board and comprising an adhesively united outer layer and corrugated layer and a relatively thin liner adhesively united to the inner side of said corrugated layer and forming the interior of the box, said corrugated layer having a thickness greater than the combined thicknesses of said outer layer and liner, there being spaced side by side lines of weakness in said liner only so that said corrugated layer and outer layer, which together constitute the major portion of the thickness of the board, are structurally unimpaired thereby to withstand stresses to which the box may be subjected; and cut means adjacent the lines of weakness and extending through the outer layer, corrugated layer and liner and forming means communicating with the portion of the liner which is located between the lines of weakness whereby it may be pulled from the exterior, said portion of the relatively thin liner thereby serving as a tear strip to rip through the corrugated layer and the outer layer.

3. In a box formed of corrugated board and comprising an adhesively united outer layer and corrugated layer and a relatively thin liner adhesively united to the innerside of said corrugated layer and forming the interior of the box, said corrugated layer having a thickness greater than the combined thicknesses of said outer layer and liner: there being spaced side by side lines of weakness in said liner only so that said corrugated layer and outer layer, which together constitute the major portion of the thickness of the board, are structurally unimpairerd thereby to withstand stresses to which the box may be subjected, said lines of weakness extending transversely of the corrugations of said corrugated layer; and cut means adjacent the lines of weakness and extending through the outer layer, corrugated layer and liner and forming means communicating with the portion of the liner which is located between the lines of weakness whereby it may be pulled from the exterior, said portion of the relatively thin liner thereby serving as a tear strip to rip through the corrugated layer and the outer layer.

4. In a box formed of corrugated board and comprising an adhesively united outer layer and corrugated layer and a relatively thin liner adhesively united to the inner side of said corrugated layer and forming the interior of the box, said corrugated layer having a thickness greater than the combined thicknesses of said outer layer and liner, there being spaced side by side lines of weakness in said liner only so that said corrugated layer and outer layer, which together constitute the major portion of the thickness of the board, are structurally unimpaired thereby to withstand stresses to which the box may be subjected, and means adjacent the lines of weakness affording communication from the exterior with the portion of the liner which is located between the lines of weakness whereby it may be pulled from the exterior, said portion of the relatively thin liner thereby serving as a tear strip to rip through the corrugated layer and the outer layer.

5. In a box formed of corrugated board and having an edge accessible from the exterior and comprising an adhesively united outer layer and corrugated layer and a relatively thin liner adhesively united to the inner side of "said corrugated layer and forming an interior surface, said corrugated layer having a thickness greater than the combined thicknesses of said outer layer and liner, there being spaced side by side lines of weakness extending transversely of and to said accessible edge, which lines of weakness are located in said liner only so that said corrugated layer and outer layer, which together constitute the major portion of the thickness of the board, are structurally unimpaired thereby to withstand stresses to which the box may be subjected, the portion of the liner which is located between the lines of weakness serving as a tear strip accessible from said accessible edge which may be pulled from the exterior to rip through the corrugated layer and the outer layer.

6. In a box formed of corrugated board and comprising a series of panels connected along parallel fold lines, the end panels of the series having edges which are interconnected and one of which edges is accessible from the exterior, said panels being formed of an adhesively united outer layer and corrugated layer and a relatively thin liner adhesively united to the inner side of said corrugated layer and forming the interior of the box, said corrugated layer having a thickness greater than the combined thicknesses of said outer layer and liner, there being spaced side by side lines of weakness extending transversely of and to said exteriorly accessible edge, which liners of weakness are located in said liner only so that said corrugated layer and outer layer, which together constitute the major portion of the thickness of the board, are structurally unimpaired thereby to withstand stresses to which the box may be subjected, the portion of the liner which is located between the lines of weakness serving as a tear strip accessible from said exteriorly accessible edge which may be pulled from the exterior to rip through the corrugated layer and the outer layer.

7. In a box formed of corrugated board and comprising an adhesively united outer layer and corrugated layer and a relatively thin liner adhesively united to the inner side of said corrugated layer and forming the interior of the box, said corrugated layer having a thickness greater than the combined thicknesses of said outer layer and liner, there being spaced side by side lines of weakness in said liner and there being spaced side by side lines of weakness in said outer layer which are parallel to and generally opposite the spaced lines of weakness of said inner liner, said corrugated layer constituting the major portion of the thickness of the board and being structurally unimpaired to withstand the stresses to which the box may be subjected, all of the lines of weakness extending transversely of the corrugations of the corrugated layer, and means adjacent said lines of weakness afiording communication from the exterior with the portion of the inner liner which is located between the lines of weakness whereby said portion may be pulled from the exterior to serve as a tear strip and rip through the corrugated layer and simultaneously cause tearing of the outer layer on its lines of weakness.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 900,953 Reber Oct. 13, 1908 1,724,224 Schroeder Aug. 13, 1929 2,170,230 Armstrong Aug. 22, 1939 2,348,377 Goodyear May 9, 1944 2,608,341 Eckman Aug. 26, 1952 2,626,096 Hickin Jan. 20, 1953 2,679,349 Mullinix May 25,-1954 

